Care home evacuated after Santo Tirso fire
A fire at the Torre Sénior care home in Santo Tirso forced the evacuation of about 40 residents overnight; firefighters extinguished the blaze and authorities reported no injuries. Residents were triaged by teams from the Portuguese National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) and temporarily housed in a municipal pavilion while the cause is investigated. Those with relatives in care homes should contact the facility for status updates and next steps; local councils handle temporary placements for evacuated residents.
The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica), known as INEM, coordinates Portugal’s pre-hospital emergency care, ambulance dispatch and medical response to 112 calls. It matters to expats because INEM is responsible for ambulance response times and on-scene care — incidents like the reported three-hour wait in Seixal can trigger investigations, affect public confidence and influence how quickly you can expect help in an emergency.
